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About Me

I'm a Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute and have written for a wide

range of newspapers, magazines and websites. My books include "FDR's Folly," "Bully Boy," "Wilson's War," "Greatest Emancipations," "Risk, Ruin & Riches," "Gnomes of Tokyo" and "The Triumph of Liberty." I graduated from the University of Chicago in economic history. Research has taken me to England, Germany, Switzerland, Argentina, Brazil, Japan, India and China. Milton Friedman wrote that my "analysis is thoroughly documented, relying on an impressive variety of popular and academic literature both contemporary and historical." Thomas Sowell: "a warning of what can happen when leaders are chosen for their charm, charisma and rhetoric." David Landes: "Powell is one tough-minded historian, willing to let the chips fall where they may." Paul Johnson: "Jim Powell is a man of great energy, determination, obstinancy and courage, and all these qualities have gone into his work." John Stossel: "A terrific read."